Clasping device for wrist watch straps, bracelets and the like



June 9, 1931- c. FIEIKES'IA'ENMAN 1,809,278

c'LAsPINe DEVICE FOR waxsw vmcn STRAPS, BRACELETS AND THE LIKE Fi led Dec. 20, 1929 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED 'S TATE oirnnnns KEs'rE'NMAn, on PROVIDENCE, REQD'E sl-na nssie voa 'ro' ns r nv- BROS. MFG. 00., or ZEROVIDENGE, lanolin ISLAND, A CORPORATION ornrronn ISL-AND OLASIING DEVICE FOR wais'r wercirs'rnnes, BRACELETS AN THE IKE Application fiIed Fieccniber'ZO, 1929. SeriaIN'O. 415,585.

This invention relates to improvementswin buckles, clasps or the like for securing the ends of wrist-watch straps, bracelets and similar articles. I r T One object of the invention is to provide extendible clasping-means on the strap or bracelet which, after the latter hasibeen adjusted to the proper length to fit the wrist, maybe released and opened out to provide for slipping'the strap or bracelet over the hand Without unfastening the securingmeans. i V

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which is comprised of a minimum number of parts adapted for economical manufacture from sheet-metal, and which may be easily and inexpensively assembled without the use of solder, screws, rivets or other extraneous parts. 4 v

- Another object of the invention is to providea device 'of the type specified having a neater and more ornamental appearance with its mechanical elements entirelyhidden from view, and which is free fromun'sightly projections orsharp edges on its surfaces liable to scratch or irritate the skin of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved detent-means for holding the parts of the clasp in closed relation to efiect a more securejoinder between the ends of the strap or bracelet, without chance of their "becoming accidentally unclasped or detached. Another object of the invention is to provide detent-means which act positively to lockthe members together even though the parts of the clasp are distorted or sprungout of shape. I j

Further objects of'the invention are set forth in the following specification which de' scribes a preferred embodiment ofthe invention as illustrated in the{ accompanying drawings. In the drawings 5 r Fig: 1 is a side view of awrist-watch having a two-part strap attached thereto. with itsends secured together by the present improved extendible clasping device; 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of: the elasping device showing its parts folded into closed relationship; A f Fig. 3 is-a cross-sectional view taken on line 83 of'Fig. 2 and illustrating the detentmeans .for holdingthe parts of the device in closed position; 7 r r I I ,Fig. iisasectional View similar to Fig. 2, showing the' device partly unfolded V I Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device showing its parts in extended relation; and

Fig. 6 is a composite perspective view showing the improved detent-means and illustrating the manner of clasping theparts" together. I

The present improved device comprises in general a pair of cooperating extensionmembers .or plates which are hingedly connected at one end to adapt them tobeclosed into foldedrelationship, one over the other; or to be openedout into extended position to lengthen the strap or'bracelet, the ends of which are attached thereto. ,One sectionlof the strap orbracelet is permanently secured to. the free end of one ofthe'folding'extension-members while the other section is adjustably held by a swive-ledbuclnleor connector on the othermember. When'the extension-members are folded together as shown in Fig. 2 the strap orbracelet will be drawn. snugly around the wrist; and when they are opened out as illustrated in Fig. 5'

the bracelet will be lengthened to a consider- I able extent to adapt it to slip over the hand of the wearer.v The present improvement re:

lates particularly. to the. detent-means "for clasping the two, cooperating extensionmembers in closed relationship by means of the buckle which elements." Referring to forms one of the clasp'ing havingfbails 3' on its sides, torwhich are suit:

Figil of, drawings,2 des ignatesa conventional type of ,wrist-watch ably attached the ends of the oppositestrap- V sections-4 and 5 011c section 40f the strap is of .a lengthladapted to encircle approximatelyhalf th-e wrist, while the other section is somewhat longer'to provide for adjusting the bracelet to the size of the wearers wrist.

The improved clasping-device is herein shown as applied to use with a strap or bracelet constructed of reticulated fabric such as wire mesh, but it may be employed with bands or straps of other material such as leather, cloth or metal the term strap being hereinafter used generallyto designate any such form of band or bracelet.

The main portion of the device comprises two cooperating extension-members or plates 7 and 8 which may be constructed of thin sheet-metal and curved to conform to the contour of the wearers wrist. The members 7 and 8 are narrowed throughout the greater portion of their length and at one end are provided with tabs or ears bent around to form loops 9 and 10 which constitute a bearing or hinge for pivot-ally connecting the members by means of a cross-pin 11.

The opposite e'nd'of the bottom member 7 is provided with a pair of ears '12Wl1lCl1 are bent'at right-angles to its main'po-r'tion and then folded over upon themeselves to form detent eateh s 13 used fora purpose as later explained. The'ears' 12 have alining holes 14' through whichextends a cross-pin 15 held therein by the folded-over portions 13 of the ears. To assemble the pin 15 on the member 7 cheer its ends is inserted-intoon of the holes 14 and its opposite end-pressed downwardly until it snaps into the other hole, the ears 12 springingoutwerdly to provide for this operation. If preferred, however, the pin 15 may be inserted'inthe holes befo're'the portions 13 of theears are folded over. This improved method ofholding the pin 15 'in place-eliminates costly soldering or riveting operaiions'and constitutes one advantageous feature ofthe-prese'nt invention. The cross"- pin --serves as'a means for fixedly attach ing the" end of the strapsection '4, a usual form-'of'end ine'mber 16 being employed "for this urpose, Asshown-ih'Figsa, land 5,

the end-memberfle may comprise a sheetmetalstrip'foldedaround thetermihal pee ti n of thestrap lengtheand havin a hook 17 looped around the eross pin 15.

.The freeen'd of the'top plateor member 8 carries an adjustable attaching-means or bu'ekleao for connecting it with the other strap-section 5. As herein shown the buckle 20 comprises an menace-shaped top-plate having down-turned lateralfiange's 21 adapted to enclose the "sides of the underlying top and bottom pl'ate's -7 and 8' whenthese members are folded into overlying relationship. The buckleao is pivotally connected to the end eif th top-plate or member 8 by' means of projections or pintle's '22 formed integral 7 with" the member and engaging through'holes' 24 in the side-flanges 21'of the buckle.

Pivoted between the side-flanges 21 ofthe buckle 20 at the'opposite end thereof iea elamping member 25 for seem-ing the end of the strap section '5. The clamping-mem be'r25 oom rises'arelatively flat plate formed withprojections or trunnions-26 at one end which project through holes 27 in the sideflanges 21 of the buckle 20. The pivoted end of the clamp 25 is provided with a lip or jaw 28' bent at right angles to its main portion and preferably'serrated or formed with teeth 29 on its under edge. The end of the strapsection 5 is attached to the buckle 20 by sliding it beneath the jaw 28 of the clamp 25 and rocking, the later into the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The jaw 28 thus binds against the strap to hold it securely against the top wall of the buckle 20, and preferably the clamp is provided with a lip 30 extending from its main portion to permit the fingernail to be inserted thereunder to lift the clamp and release its jaw from the strap to provide for readjustment thereof.

In Fig. f the drawings the hinged members 7 and 8 are shown in extended relation to adapt the bracelet to he slipped over the hand in applying it to or removing it from the wrist. 'VVhen the parts are in closed or clasped position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the strap will be drawn tightly around the wearers wrist and to secure the parts in this relationship suitable latchingor-detentmeans are provided as next described.

At the forward end of the buckle 20 its flanges 21 are indented on the outside to form inwardly projecting protuberances or projections 31 of substantially rectangular outline, over which the catches 13 are adapted to snap to be engaged securely therewith. To facilitate the unclasping of the device, a lip or projection 32 is formed on the buckle 20'for the-insertion of the fingernail thereunder in lifting the buckle 20 upwardly to free its projections 31 from the catches 13, whereby the parts may be extended or opened out as previously explained.

The deviceoperates as follows: Thestrapsections 4and5 are secured'to the bails 3 of the watch 2 and their opposite ends attached to the fastening device in the manner as above explained. \Vith the strap-sections 4 and 5 thus attached -thewrist-watch strap is applied to the-wrist and clasped in the manner asnext explained. The top-member 8 is first folded upon the bottom membe'r 7 as shown in Fig. 2, and then by applying a slight pressure uponthe top of the-buckle 20 the latter is forced down against the over lying plates to cause it to enclose their edges. The detent lugs or protuberances 31 will thus be caused to snap over the catches 13 and engage with their edges as'shown in Fig. 3. The extension members or plates 7 and 8 are thus held withinthe buckle 20 by the action of the detent-means to maintain latter and releasethe detent-means. The sides of the buckle will yield sufficiently to allow the protuberances 31 to ride over the catches 13 to effect the unclasping of the parts. The folding members 7 and 8 may then be opened out into extended relationship, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, so that the strap can be slipped oil? over the hand withoutunfastening its ends.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present improvement provides an extremely simple and efficient device for the purpose specified, with the parts constructed from sheet-metal stampings to render them economical to manufacture. The various elements of the device may be assembled without the use of solder, screws, rivets or springs, thus eliminating all extraneous parts liable to become loose and cause shackly joints. l/Vhen in closed or clasped relation the mechanical elementsare entirely hidden from view beneath the buckle 20 and the strap-section 5. The buckle 20 may be suitably embossed, engraved, pierced or otherwise ornamented on its face to enhance the artistic appearance of the whole article.

A particular feature of the invention consists in the improved construction of the detent-means for clasping the two extensionmembers in closed relationship within the buckle-member. The protuberances 31 are substantially rectangular in outline, thus providing elongated detents and the ears 12 of the bottom-plate 7 form hooks or catches of considerable length to provide increased engagingsurfaces between the clasping means.

Through this novel arrangement a more positive and secure clasping of the parts is maintained at all times and the detent or claspingmeans may adjust itself to compensate for change in shape of the various parts. This feature constitutes an improvement over previous devices of the present type in which the elements are held in clasped relation by small circular detents liable to become .misalined as the parts are bent out of shape or their joints become loose. Moreover, the ears 12 which form the catches also serve as supports or bearings for the cross-pin 15 used to fasten the strap to the bottom-plate 7, and the pin is held in place by the bent. portions or catches 13 without soldering or riveting.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred from of construction of the invention it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim: I

1. In a clasping-device for straps, bracelets or the like, the combination of extensionmembers, means for hingedly connecting said members to adapt them to be folded together ing the ends of the strap tosaid members, de-

tent-protuberances in the form of projec- I tions punchedfout' from the metal of the sides of one member, and ears on the other memberffolded over upon themselves with their edges in position to snap overthe detent protuberancesto secure the'parts in closed position.q V V 2.,In fa clasping-device for straps, bracelets or the like, the combination of extensionmembers, means for hingedly connecting said extension-members to adapt them to be folded together "in overlyingj relationship, means for attaching the ends of the strap or bracelet to said members, side flanges on one mem ber provided with detent-protuberances in the form of projections of the metal extruded from said flanges, and ears bent up from the sides of the other member and folded over upon them-selves with their edges in opposed relation to the detent-protuberances to adapt I them to engage therewith when the parts are folded together in closed relationship.

3. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a relatively flat extensionmember, means for attaching a strap length to said member, a second member hinged to the first member to adapt it to fold into overlying relationship therewith, a channel shaped'connector hinged tothe second member, means on the connector for attaching the end of the other strap length thereto, detentprotuberances projecting from the sides of the connector, and ears on the sides of the first member receivable within the sides of the connector and having portions folded over upon themselves with their edges in position to snap over and engage the detentprotuberances to secure the parts in folded relationship.

4:. In a device. of the type specified, the combination ofa member having ears on its sides formed with alining apertures and portions folded over thereagain'st to overlie the apertures, a cross-pin extending through the apertures in the ears and held in place by the folded portions thereof, a strap-section provided with means at its end engaging the cross-pin to attach it to the member, a second member, means for connecting said second member to the end of the first member to adapt it to fold into overlying relationship therewith, another strap-section attached to the second member, and detent-means carried by the second member and adapted to engage over the edges of the folded portions of the ears on the first member to clasp said members in folded relationship. I 5. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a relatively flat extension-mem 'ber formed with hinge-portions at one end and ears at its opposite end bent up from'its sides and provided with alining apertures,

said ears having portions folded over to overlie the apertures, a cross-pin inserted through the apertures in the ears and held in place by the folded portions thereof, a strap-section provided with means at its end for attaching it to the cross-pin on the eXtension-memher, a second extension-member having hingeportions at-one.end,means for pivotally connecting the hinges of said members toadapt them to foldinto overlying relationship, a channel-shaped buckle hinged to the opposite end of the second member and provided with side flanges adapted to enclose the sides of thefirst member, means to attach a straplength to the buckle, and detent protuberances projecting inwardly from the sides of the buckle to adapt them to snap over the edges of the folded portions of the ears on the first member to clasp the parts in closed relationship.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affiX my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN. 

